30 May 2023 The importance of data for dairy farms
We live in a data-driven society. We produce an ever-increasing amount of data. The challenge is in making sense of all this data. Because making the right decisions is the foundation of a successful business.. That most certainly applies to farmers too. ‘By collecting and analysing the right data, you can discover important patterns that will help you run your dairy farm’,’ says Ingo Radermacher, CTO at Fullwood. He tells us about the importance of data and how farmers can harness it to their best advantage.
Your herd’s performance
By collecting and analysing the right data, you can learn a great deal about your dairy farm. Ingo: ‘It gives you insight into how your cows are doing. If you use sensors to collect this data, you can spot irregularities much earlier than you would through visual checks. And if you know how your herd is performing, you can adjust the milking and feeding schedule accordingly, which will improve your herd’s performance. Knowing how to use data properly means you can operate more efficiently and maximise your profits.
Measuring cow activity and behaviour
Various tools are available for collecting data. ‘You can use a pedometer or collar that records cow activity,’ Ingo explains. ‘The collar can also measure rumination behaviour, for example. If an animal’s activity or behaviour changes, the cause may be an underlying problem, such as an illness. Sensors can detect a health condition much earlier than you can just by looking.’
‘The sensors on your milking robot can also provide a wealth of valuable information about the composition of the milk,’ Ingo continues. ‘You can tell whether a cow has an infection or is not producing as much milk as expected. By recognising subtle signs early, you can pre-empt illnesses and other problems. This allows you to make decisions that help maintain and improve the health of your cows. Knowing how to interpret data can greatly benefit you as a farmer.’
Help with interpreting data
It would be asking a lot of dairy farmers to expect them to analyse raw data themselves, suggests Ingo. ‘What patterns are emerging? What could be improved? Interpreting that kind of data is not their core business,’ he says. ‘Farmers should be able to concentrate on their work in the barn. We at Fullwood wanted to help farmers get the most out of their data by creating our new FULLSENSE application.’
FULLSENSE is an optional tool that can be ordered together with our M²erlin milking robot. The application turns complex data into clear information that makes it easy to make smart decisions. ‘FULLSENSE interprets data, gives it meaning and makes recommendations,’ says Ingo. ‘We call it Data to Decision. So, instead of having to find the correct interpretation of the data yourself, FULLSENSE does it for you.’
From complex data to smart recommendations
Ingo: ‘For example, the application notifies you if it detects that one of your cows is developing irregularities. It notices when the input changes, like a cow producing less milk, changes in milk composition, or changes in the cow’s activity. FULLSENSE can then recommend that the cow be checked for conditions like mastitis, for example. You can also see the information the application has used to draw these conclusions.’
‘The application detects changes in the cows’ behaviour,’ says Ingo. ‘Perhaps a cow is not eating what she normally eats, for example, or she suddenly starts lying down less. Has she changed her routine? There could be all sorts of reasons for this, and FULLSENSE will help you identify them. The application alerts you to issues in good time so you can take prompt action to address them.’
‘As well as data about the herd, FULLSENSE provides a wealth of data about the milking system. Again, it is important to know in good time when intervention is needed, such as cleaning or maintaining parts. Data to Decision gives the farmer tips and reminders so the robots and cows remain optimally aligned and deliver maximum performance 24 hours a day.’
FULLSENSE: easy to use
FULLSENSE is easy for anyone to read and use. ‘That means it’s also easy for whoever takes care of your livestock when you go on holiday,’ explains Ingo. ‘Our principle when designing the application was that it should be possible to access any part of it within a maximum of four clicks. And with so much complex data and the huge number of decisions that can be made, that was quite a challenge.’
‘But we were successful. FULLSENSE was created with passion. We went all out to develop an intuitive, simple-to-operate application with a clear, user-friendly dashboard. It gives every dairy farmer the opportunity to make data-driven, targeted improvements. And that allows them to manage their dairy farm in the best possible way.’
Want to know more?
Curious about how to get more out of your data? Or would you like to know more about FULLSENSE? The application can be ordered now in combination with the M²erlin milking robot.
